Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-12-02
Sibyl alone never relaxed from her atti

you. II Is perfec " useless tor you to
take the trouble OF staying here"
"Ol course, | know That. But, just to
please my father, let me pretend that
you are trying to tetcl me thugs. You
may tell me about your Friends and all
the wonderful things they pretend to do.
Pray 90 on, | am listening"
No. SAID Paul, cit is IMPOSSIBLE |
can only talk in that way with those who
are IN symathy with mo and with them.
You are not. You openly deride them.
and you do not attempt to hide the hatred
you nourish toward myself DO you not
understand that your proposition is in-
sulting But you do not mind that, per
hnps Your whole altitude since | have
been here proves so much,'
II do not wish to Insult anyone, Herr
Paulus. | am here in OHcdience to my
father. I canlot help it If / an ont of
sympathy with you"
You might have become one Of us.
There was Il moment, aOOut mouth ago,
when tanced that your heart va soften
ing, but 1t passed away, and now shall
make no further attempt 50 dispel your
prejudice. | must endure it."
THAT will cost You very little trouble.
Meantime, il you refuse to instruct me,
what am to do 7 | have promised my
father to sit at your feet aud listen.
must do that even if you teach me moth
ing"
1--WE might talk about other things,
perhaps"
al do not know any other things which
wish to discuss with YOU" Slbyl replied
sharply.
snail we, then, sit in silence?
Eyes. That will be much better Don't
speak to me at all"
Paul sat down again in his easy chair,
while Sinyl sat opposite, her hands folded
in her lap; and for space neither spoke.
SO far Sibyl had certainly the worst of
the conversation, for heropponcnt showed
not the least signs OF ru1led temper, and
even looked as if he thoroughly enjoyed
the conditions OFT lesson and was quite
happy aud at his ease. Nothing is more
Irritating than to be cross with person
who keeps his temper.
Naturally, it was the woman who first
broke the silence.
Glow long" she asked, looking at the
clock, SHOULD the first lesson last :"
As long as you please"
Then lei ii finish now. Herr Paulus,"
she changed her manner instantly.
Never mind me and my-my distru5t;
but tell me what it is you have done TO
my father"
You have observed Il change ?"
at is so great Il change that | want you
to tell me W nat you have said or done. |
have asked him, but he does not seem
able to speak cOherently about it, He is
much happier; he has lost his restless
Hlduucr' ne seems, lOF lne HtS' Tune, sat
isted and contented. What have you
done to HIM ~
I'VE talk here of thing, which you do
not UNI elstand They are foolishness and
pretence you. Bat they lift up the soul
for us"
Sibyl made no direct reply. Always
this mans explanations put her in the
wrong, and made her feel humble for the
moment aud angry afterward- angry
first and then humble.
"Is it all, then, to end in vague talk
which Ii is the soul - she asked.
81 do not say So"
"You came with a Message. You said
so. You have done all kinds of things to
show that you were properly accredited
person. You talked OF conversing with
people far of, and with the dead of max
ing youth and age, life aud death, only
phrases
1T is true said all this and more"
But everything is rs far off as ever.
You are only like the medium who brings
messages from the dead which tell nobody
anything"
"Whdt does your father say :"
He says" Sibyl hesitated because
she saw another trap. "He says that he
spends his mornings in Abyssina or some
where"
Il suppose you can trust your fathers
word so you see things are not after all
so far off as they were, except to your
self"
Il can trust my fathers word, and yet
-yet-oh it is nonsense. How can he 90
to Abyssinia
"Why does he say that he goes there,
then ~
Herr Paulus"-Sibyl looked him
straight in the face with spot of Grim
son in either cheek-"Herr Paulus, |
think you deceive him in some way
Paul smiled gravely and compassionate
lu "a
wayward child,
at is as well to say a thing as to think
it. OF couse, | have known all along
what You think. SO be it, Let it be. l
deceive your father. Yet | make him
happier, less restless, and more confident
He has abandoned his old gods he has de
stroyed his idols, and will consult the
spirits no more.
Yes, that is true we shall have no
more SCdEccs here. Aud OH Herr Pau
lus, if it Is guile true that you want moth
ing for yourself, be content with what
you 10 go away while my fathers mind
is relieved of one superstition"
"You would add-'before he falls into
another Miss Srudenel, yon have spok
en- TOO late. That is, it is impossible for
me to obey you. Things must develop
nothing ever stops still-he must follow
in the path we have entered. But do not
be afraid. For your father and for this
house all will be pure gain, as YOU Will
find and a"know Wedge even you"
Never :"
Meantime, is there anything that l
can do for you :"
you may cease to fill Cicely's head with
hopes of her brothers return"
THAT, too, is impossible. Her brother
may return any day His ship is not far
from port. Sir Percval thinks that he
has cut himself off from his family alto.
gether, and we must go to find him if he
will not come here. You may, if you
please, come with us
" oh still mystery and pretence. Then,
will you leave off mesmerizing Hetty ~
NO, | Will not" Paul put his foot
down firmly. "Hetty has a gift that must
be most carefully developed. Do not ask
me, Miss Brudenel, tointerfere with what
concerns my Teaching"
You will stay here then :"
"Unlil Lady Augusta orders me to 60"
Then you will stay here forever
perhaps. know not"
Sibyl looked round the room filled with
the books OF her fathers priceless coilec-
ton.